Short answer
Designers should adopt a co-design approach, actively involving all relevant stakeholders from the initial concept stages through to development to create more effective mHealth solutions.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction (2021)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Sample
- 61 studies
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Involving diverse stakeholders throughout the mHealth system development process leads to more effective and relevant solutions. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2021 study published in AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction. Using Systematic literature review with 61 studies, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should adopt a co-design approach, actively involving all relevant stakeholders from the initial concept stages through to development to create more effective mHealth solutions.
Co-design in mHealth accelerates development by engaging all stakeholders.
Involving diverse stakeholders throughout the mHealth system development process leads to more effective and relevant solutions.
AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction · 2021
Key Findings
- 01Co-design in mHealth is a fragmented but rapidly evolving field.
- 02The focus of co-design is predominantly on the early stages of design (pre-design, generative).
- 03Co-designed mHealth artifacts span various disease management and health promotion areas.
- 04A diverse range of participants, including users, healthcare professionals, and system designers, are involved.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should adopt a co-design approach, actively involving all relevant stakeholders from the initial concept stages through to development to create more effective mHealth solutions.
How to apply
When designing any digital health tool, establish a co-design framework that includes regular workshops and feedback sessions with target users and domain experts.
Project actions
- 01Clearly define the roles of each stakeholder in your co-design process.
- 02Document how user feedback directly influenced design decisions.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive review of a significant number of relevant studies.
- +Provides a structured overview of co-design methods within different phases.
Limitations
The review's focus on early design phases might mean that the optimal methods for co-design in later development or deployment stages are less explored.
Reliability & validity
The systematic nature of the literature review enhances reliability. Validity is supported by the breadth of studies included, though potential publication bias could be a limitation.
Think critically
To what extent does the observed focus on early design phases limit the generalizability of these co-design findings to the entire product lifecycle?
Design Principles
"User and stakeholder involvement is crucial for successful complex system design."
This approach acknowledges the complexity of health management and the mobile context, ensuring that the final product meets the needs of users, healthcare professionals, and designers. By integrating user perspectives early and often, design teams can mitigate common pitfalls and create more successful mHealth interventions.
What This Means for Your Design
When making health apps, it's best to get users and doctors involved right from the start to make sure the app actually helps people.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when justifying the use of co-design methods in your design process, particularly for user research and iterative development.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical role of co-design in developing effective mHealth systems, emphasizing stakeholder involvement throughout the design process. By integrating insights from Noorbergen et al. (2021), design projects can benefit from a more user-centred approach, leading to solutions that are better aligned with user needs and contextual realities.
Source
AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction
Co-design in mHealth Systems Development: Insights From a Systematic Literature Review
journal · 2021
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about co-design in mhealth accelerates development by engaging all stakeholders?
- Designers should adopt a co-design approach, actively involving all relevant stakeholders from the initial concept stages through to development to create more effective mHealth solutions. Evidence: AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction (2021).
- Why does "Co-design in mHealth accelerates development by engaging all stakeholders." matter for design?
- This approach acknowledges the complexity of health management and the mobile context, ensuring that the final product meets the needs of users, healthcare professionals, and designers. By integrating user perspectives early and often, design teams can mitigate common pitfalls and create more successful mHealth interventions.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should adopt a co-design approach, actively involving all relevant stakeholders from the initial concept stages through to development to create more effective mHealth solutions.
- What were the main findings?
- Co-design in mHealth is a fragmented but rapidly evolving field.. The focus of co-design is predominantly on the early stages of design (pre-design, generative).. Co-designed mHealth artifacts span various disease management and health promotion areas.. A diverse range of participants, including users, healthcare professionals, and system designers, are involved.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review with 61 studies.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2021 journal from AIS Transactions on Human-Computer Interaction.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing any digital health tool, establish a co-design framework that includes regular workshops and feedback sessions with target users and domain experts.
- What are the limitations?
- The review highlights a strong focus on early design phases, suggesting potential gaps in understanding co-design's application in later stages of the product lifecycle.